The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-18
Burying His Five Sons.
philadelphia NeWs.I

A LycomiDg County farmer, blessed by
the possession of broad acres and fat cattle,
and fatter cash account, had given his five
sons-more precious than all else beside
that the Union might be preserved. His
vile was dead and his boys were his only
solsce, but when the war against his coun-
try was declared he felt as did Volumnia,
the mother of Coriolanus, when she said:
Had dozen sons, each in my love alike,
had rather have eleven die nobly for their
country than one voluptuously surfeit out
of action" So the Rankin boys went to
confront grim visaged war. The life blood
Of two of them made more fertile the rank
growth of the Peninsula, and their bodies
lay unclaimed amid the thousands who
had gone down in the shock of battle. The
bowed, but not broken, father came to the
Governors office ia Harrisburg with his
tale of woe. Andrew Curtain never turned
a deaf ear to such as he. He said: "Yod
are too old man to go after your sons
bodies. / will send 8 messenger for them,
and you can rest assured that you will be
enabled to give them BURIAL
And this was done.
After the second battle of Manassas the
aged father again entered the Executive
Cham Der, and, without saying a word,
seated himself. The Governor recognized
him at once, and thought, "Can it be that
this old man has been afflicted AGAIN."
He babe him approach. The visitors voice
was broken, but his tears did not fall as he
said: Governor, another one of them has
gone" For a moment Mr.. Curtin could
not speak. He silently wruDg the horny
hand of the despoiled father. When he
found voice he said:
You must not go. l will send for him
You shall see him again."
And this was done.
When news of the battle of Gettysburg
reached Harrisburg, Governor Curtin trav-
eled across the country and viewed the
memorable conflict After its conclusion he
returned to Harrisburg and was seated late
at night in his room when again Rankin
entered without word and silently seated
himself upon chair. My God, thought
Mr.. Curtin, sit can not be that the blow
has fallen upon this old man again" He
could not bring himself to ask the ques-
ton, and for fully fifteen minutes the two
men sat in the room, their heads upon
their hands, and neither uttered word.
at last the old man said, as he steadied his
voice: Governor, the other two are gone"
"The other two2 This is terrible"
Eyes, Governor, the other two. They
have taken them all.
He wished pass to enter the lines that
he might take home his silent sons "You
are too old, said the anguished Governor.
81 will send for them and they shall be
taken home"
And this was done.
After Governor Curtin had returned to
this country at the close of his five years
residence at the Court of Russia. he was in
Philadelphia when it was intimated to
him that Mr.. Rankin, who was still alive,
would be highly delighted if his benefsct-
or would pay him a visit when the ex-
Minister was on his way to his home in
Center County Mr.. Curtin said that he
would comply with the wish, and when he
reached the railroad station nearest to the
Lyceming County farmers home he found
the old man waiting for him with a car
riage. That evening the people of the sur
rounding country, at Mr.. Rankin's bidding,
focked TO do honor to the Ex-Governor.
The next morning after partaking of
breakfast such as only Pennsylvania
farmhouse can produce, the aged agricul-
turist invited Mr. Curtin TO join him in
walk. He led the way to a wooded knoll
near the house, and a spot which was
beautifully sodded Enclosure, surrounded
by an iron railing. Within it were five
mounds and five headstones. The old man
pointed toward them and simply said:
Governor, there they he.'' Both men
bowed their heads and neither uttered a
word. In few moments Rankin turned
away with a CHEEKY remark about the sur
rounding country, and from that moment
during the two days festivities that sue
ceeded Mr.. Curtin's arrival, the aesolate
father never again referred to his sleeping
SONS.